Ichiro Kitano

What attracted you to Plymouth State’s graduate program? Intensive entry-level athletic training education attracted me prior to enrollment. The entry-level athletic training program provided good quality of education to complete my master’s degree and prepare me to become a certified athletic trainers in two years.

Where are you now employed? The Philadelphia Phillies (Minor League)

How are you implementing knowledge gained during your program? I worked for one of the teams in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) made up of players in Division I, II, and III colleges while I was in the program. Working with high-level collegiate baseball players was a great experience for me. Prior to that, I had only worked with Division III athletes. That experience accelerated my abilities to handle a variety of athletes.

What would you say to a student who is considering graduate school? The entry-level athletic training program provides a good quality of education to prepare you to become a certified athletic trainer and complete a master’s degree. Plymouth State is a smaller university than a Division I school. However, the education and experiences that you receive are more intensive and compact to prepare you at any levels. My transition from Plymouth State to a Division I university to a professional setting was smooth because of the athletic training education foundation I received at Plymouth State.